per cent in the October-December quarter as against 10.2 per cent a year earlier.

The segment grew 10.5 per cent in April-December compared with 10.8 per cent in the same period a year ago.

Mining and quarrying contracted 1.6 per cent as against a decline of 2 per cent in the same period of the previous financial year.

During April-December, the sector's output contracted 1.6 per cent compared to a 1.1 per cent dip in production in the same period a year ago.

The community, social and personal services segment grew 7 per cent as compared to 4 per cent earlier. During the nine-month period, the segment grew 6.7 per cent.

Gross Fixed Capital Formation, an indicator of fresh investments, at constant (2004-05) prices remained flat at Rs 5 lakh crore in the third quarter compared with the same period of the previous financial year.

Growth in the trade, hotels, transport and communications segment slowed to 4.3 per cent in the third quarter from 5.9 per cent in the same period last year. In the first nine months, it grew 4.1 per cent.